Claire sails in as new coach
Claire Cochrane has become the first female to take charge of East Kilbride Pirates’ women’s team.
She takes over as head coach from Andrew McGowan ahead of preseason training starting in earnest tonight.
As well as being one of the founding members of the East Kilbride Pirates women’s contact team with three seasons playing experience, Cochrane also has two seasons of coaching experience as Running Backs coach at the Glasgow University Tigers under her belt.
Pirates chair Amanda McDonald said: “Claire is very well placed to take on this exciting new challenge.
“In addition to her playing and coaching knowledge, she has gained great experience from her roles on the team sub-committee and club committee and through years of involvement in the sport.
“It’s exciting to see coaches start to come through from women’s football – and have women leading women.”
Joining Claire on the women’s contact team coaching staff are returning coaches Neil Baptie, who hails from St Leonards, on offense and Paul Stewart on Defensive Line as well as some new faces.
On offensive line will be another coach coming through from within the women’s team – Aimee Wilson.
Aimee is another founding member of the Montgomerie also found Scott McKigen for the 2PAT for a 10-0 lead.
The Pirates’ next possession saw the game move into the second quarter, and an eight play drive concluded with a two-yard TD run by Rory Hutton. Jack Cochrane duly ran in the extra points to make it 18-0.
Their next score arrived at the start of the second half when running back Lee Chappell carried home from seven yards to cap a nine-play drive, although the 2PAT failed this time round. Herts then went three-and-out with a short punt leaving the ball still in Cheetahs territory. From there, Cochrane ran the ball home for a 48-yard score, leaving EK 30-0 ahead as the game moved into the final period.
As the teams turned around, the Pirates had made their way to the Cheetahs’ eight-yard line. On the first play of the period, Montgomerie found McKigen in the back of the endzone, with the young receiver doing a great job of keeping himself in bounds as he caught the ball. Hutton also ran in the extra points to make it 38-0.
The final TD came late in the game when Cochrane added his second with an 11yard run, Chappell adding the 2PAT.
Cochrane was named as MVP and he collected his trophy before joining his team mates to raise the plate and bring down the curtain on a successful campaign.
Pirates chair Amanda McDonald was thrilled to see another tournament victory for the club. She said: “It was fantastic to see the junior team take home the silverware at the weekend, the culmination of another strong season thanks to the effort of the players, and the hard work and commitment of head coach Matthew Davies and his staff.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the junior players graduating from the squad moving up to the senior team next season, too.” women’s contact team with experience from three seasons of Sapphire as well as GB, Diamond series and senior football. She will be a player-coach.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball Duncan Adams joins as Defensive Coordinator.
Duncan has been defensive backs coach at university Premier Division powerhouse Stirling Clansmen since 2012. He will coach linebackers and defensive backs.